Robert Colligan, Park Ranger Supervisor at Montaña de Oro, told the San Luips Obispo Tribune that Wapner was fortunate not to have sustained more serious injuries.

“The injuries wren’t life-threatening, and he was already talking about getting back out into the water to surf again sometime soon,” Colligan said.

Colligan theorized that the shark bite, if it was a single bite, was exploratory in nature. Adult white sharks are ambush predators that prey largely on seals and sea lions. But they’ll sometimes test-bite items that they suspect might be prey.

Said Colligan: “The shark might have bitten, and then realized it wasn’t what it was looking for and let go.”

Wapner told the Tribune that he was still in shock, but added, “I’m happy to be alive.”

News of the attack reached the Marine Conservation Science Institute, which tags white sharks off Central California to learn about migration patterns.

MCSI shared the Tribune’s story to Facebook on Tuesday evening, writing,
“With all of our tagged California White Sharks now far offshore, we have wrapped up this season’s tagging efforts. But apparently there are a few big sharks still along the CA coast. We wish Nick Wapner a speedy recovery!”

Wapner grew up in Rancho Palos Verdes in Los Angeles County, and has been employed as a lifeguard at Huntington State Beach in Orange County.

A 19-year-old college student was bitten by a 15-foot great white shark Tuesday while surfing at Montaña de Oro State Park in Central (…)

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